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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

I know that it's been awhile since my last post, but I have a very special post for you today! As September wraps up, this entire month has been Childhood Cancer Awareness month and OXO is doing their annual Cookies for Kids' Cancer program.

As part of this campaign, bloggers received some special products to create posts to help spread the word about this campaign. In addition, for every blog post for this campaign, OXO will donate $100 to Cookies for Kids' Cancer! Lastly, you can look for products with the sticker below and for every one of these stickered products sold, OXO will donate 25 cents to Cookies for Kids' cancer. This is an easy way to help out an important cause that affects so many people.

As part of my contribution to the numerous and delicious blog posts, I am presenting you with my Lavender Spritz Cookies! OXO sent me some great cookie making goodies, along with their wonderful cookie press. I have an old cookie press that was my mom's but don't use it because it's hard on my hands because they get tired and swell up after using it. OXO's cookie press, you just hold down the lever so it's much easier for people to use!

This is one of my favorite cookies. They are so easy to make and everyone loves them. The lavender is subtle and not overpowering. When I first tried lavender in food, I was afraid that it would be too floral and perfume-y, but found that lavender is a great ingredient to make something unique. We have an abundance of lavender here in the Southwest and I love the beautiful pops of color that it gives to our neighborhoods. If you don't have lavender plans where you are, you can try some of your herbal stores or Whole Foods who may also sell dried lavender.

If you don't have a cookie press, you can easily form the dough into a log, then refrigerate for a couple hours and slice. Or you can roll the dough out and cut out shapes with a cookie cutter. If you do decide to use the cookie press, try to grind the lavender buds as well as possible so that the chunks don't get stuck in the cookie press, leaving you funny shaped cookies!

When you're looking for something unique and refreshing, please give these cookies a try!

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground lavender buds. Blend in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In a measuring cup, add the egg. If it does not measure to 1/4 cup, add in enough water to measure 1/4 cup.

Add the egg, vanilla, and lemon extract into the crumb mixture and mix until a dough forms.

Form the dough into a log, wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and place in the fridge for two hours. When ready, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dough from the plastic wrap, insert into the cookie press, and line baking sheets with the cookies, leaving a couple inches apart between cookies. Bake 9-11 minutes, until slightly golden around the edges.